Mike Woodson and Indiana basketball will be relying on their key returners that ‘know our system’ to ‘make a quicker jump’ in hopes of meeting the high expectations this season

A ton of praise has been given to Mike Woodson and his Indiana basketball staff for the work they did in the offseason. With multiple needs and important roles to fill, the Hoosiers went out and got guys that help them improve from a season ago.

Needed dynamic guards?: They went out and got Myles Rice and Kanaan Caryle.

A replacement for Kel’el Ware in the front court?: Indiana basketball secured the best transfer on the market in Oumar Ballo.

How about shooting?: Well how about adding one of the best pure shooters in the Big Ten over the past three years in Luke Goode.

Yes, Woodson and his Indiana basketball staff filled pretty much every need that was needed this offseason as the Hoosiers look to be one of the better teams in the entire country throughout the upcoming year. However, what does not get talked about nearly enough as probably what it should is the returning core that Indiana was able to get back from a season ago.

It started with Trey Galloway and Anthony Leal announcing they would be returning for their fifth season at Indiana….followed by Malik Reneau…then Gabe Cupps…then Mackenzie Mgabko….ending with Jakai Newton. In total, Indiana basketball brought back 6 key players from last year’s squad.

Now on paper, having that many returners from a team that went just 19-14 on the year, finished fifth in the Big Ten, and missed the NCAA Tournament is usually not a thrilling as it should be. But when you dive deeper into the retuning core, the Hoosiers returned pretty much all of their top production from last season, besides Kel’el Ware who went to the NBA.

In total, Indiana basketball brought back 3-of-4 of their top scorers from last season in Malik Reneau, Mackenzie Mgbako, and Trey Galloway with all three combining for 38.2 points per game.

When the rumors of the internal fire of this Indiana basketball program arose last year with the thought that literally the whole roster would be transferring out, Mike Woodson proved that that there was no smoke at all and that his top guys all had major trust in the veteran head coach.

The trust that these guys have in Mike Woodson is on track to paying off.

“Well you like to think that guys like Gallo (Galloway) and Malik (Reneau) and Mackenzie (Mgbako), all three played well for us last season. Gabe (Cupps) has really played well for us this summer,” said Mike Woodson when speaking to Jon Rothstein on the College Hoops Today Podcast. I just think he’s (Cupps) has made a nice jump from his freshman year coming into summer play. I think he’s going to be steady and solid for us, as well.”

“I like to think guys that have been here, know our system, and know what we’re doing should make a quicker jump, but you never know with the new guys, as well man. Anything can happen.”

More: ‘I feel a lot more comfortable’: Indiana basketball sophomore guard Gabe Cupps looking to take that next step this season to help the Hoosiers achieve success

Mackenzie Mgbako is looking to take an elite jump next season

Syndication: The Herald-Times

Obviously when it comes to Indiana basketball being successful and living up to the high expectations that have been set on the Hoosiers, all of the returning guys are going to have to make a strong jump. One player in particular that most fans and media have their eye’s on possibly making the biggest jump out of any player in the Big Ten is sophomore forward, Mackenzie Mgbako.

After what was a pretty slow start to his freshman season, Mgbako turned his game up a notch the last half of the season as he become more confident and comfortable with the college game. His excellent play led him to winning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year behind his 13.6 points and shot 37.8 percent from three with 1.9 made 3s a game in conference play alone.

A slow start this upcoming season is just simply not in the plans for Indiana basketball when it comes to the former five-star McDonalds All-American. For this Indiana squad to be successful, Mgbako will be looked upon to be leader right away on the floor when it comes to production.

He returned for his sophomore year because there was still more work to do if he wanted to reach his goals of getting to the NBA.

“Only time will tell, man, I don’t sit here and predict anything,” Woodson added. “He’s (Mgbako) still got to go through practice and he’s still got to develop each and every day in practice and there’s gotta be a carry over in the ballgame, but I’m expecting big things out of him.”

“He got off to somewhat of a slow start last season and he was able to flip it based on the body of work and him continuing to work hard in practice and he got better as the season went along which is kind of nice to see.”

Mike Woodson and Indiana basketball are on a mission to right the wrong of last year’s lackluster season. The staff did the work this offseason to bring in better talent while maintaining most of their top production from last season.

This Indiana basketball team is balanced and has depth at every single position on the floor. From strictly a talent standpoint, this is the best roster that Mike Woodson has had during his four years as Indiana head coach.

There are no more excuses if Indiana fails to meet expectations this upcoming season, and the returners from last year’s team have to help prove that the 2023-24 season was nothing more than a fluke and that this program can compete at a high level.

“There’s no doubt it’s the best talent and it’s the best roster we’ve had and that’s not taking anything away from the last three previous seasons.”

“So it’s going to be a lot of work that’s gotta be put in on my part in terms of me and my staff getting these guys to come in and play at a high level and do what’s expected of them on and off the court because that’s what it’s going to take to win the Big Ten title, and possibly a national title.”

SEE ALSO: As he enters his final season, Trey Galloway’s ‘success would be being remembered as a winner’ as he looks to leave behind an incredible legacy for Indiana basketball

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